Spanish for Dummies (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: pronunciation brackets, lohs deeahs, phrases that can help, Latin America, Conjugation Pronunciation, Anita Smith (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Is speaking Spanish nothing more than a bad high school memory for you? Are the phrases "Yo quiero Taco Bell" and "Hasta la vista, baby" the extent of what you can say in Spanish?

Whether you need a quick primer for an upcoming business trip or want to build on a basic understanding of the language, Spanish For Dummies can help. But the book is more than just a language text full of cool phrases and useful vocabulary -- it's also a cultural guide for those moments when you really need to know how and why things are done.

Part of what makes this book so valuable is its whole-language approach to Spanish. Instead of burdening you with endless vocabulary lists and tricky grammar rules, Spanish For Dummies gives you the tools to take your Spanish on the road. Focus on everyday situations and hone your small-talk skills that help you with basic communication in Spanish. What's more, the authors have scattered throughout the book tidbits that contextualize the language so you understand the people, places, and things that are unique to Spanish-speaking cultures. An audio CD enables you to hear Spanish as it's really spoken by presenting dialogues between native Spanish speakers.

From the Publisher

This unintimidating guide from the experts at Berlitz helps you start speaking Spanish quickly and easily! Whether you're a student, a traveler, or just want to pick up basic Spanish, you'll find its packed with practical lessons, cultural facts, fun, and handy references including a Spanish-English mini-dictionary, common verb lists, and more!

Discover how to:

*Have everyday conversations in Spanish

*Make sense of Spanish grammar

*Improve your pronunciation

*Get a handle on verb conjugations

*Use idioms and popular expressions

*Get around in a Spanish-speaking country

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (December 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764551949
• ISBN-13: 978-0764551949
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,183 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #9 in	Books > Reference > Words & Language > Linguistics
  #10 in	Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Linguistics
  #14 in	Books > Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

138 of 142 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Prety good book!, September 6, 2003

By	M. L Strickland (Marietta, GA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I like this book. A lot. It's one of my favorites for learning and reviewing bite sized pieces of Spanish.

I agree with the reviewer who said that it should not be used alone. Actually, what I am finding after trying to learn Spanish for business for about a year, is that there is NO single resource that can be used alone.

I travel a lot on business to various Spanish speaking countries and this is the book that I take along most often. It deserves a place in your Spanish-learning library.

My experience has been that to learn Spanish on your own, you need books, tapes, dictionaries, videos, Spanish TV, newspapers, PLUS you have to practice, practice, practice with native speakers. Every type of resource you can think of. If you want to learn quickly, move to a Spanish speaking country for a year and devote the year to learning Spanish. Otherwise, it will require persistence and patience.

130 of 135 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not to be used alone, February 17, 2002

By	C. Wolfe "cmw328i" (Miami, fl United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Im trying to learn spanish because I live in Miami and I think I'll have a better time getting a job if I can speak it. However, this book is really like a primer book for the absolute basics. personally, I dont think anything beats a computer program for pronounciation. On the computer, you can hear certian words over and over and have the program help you pronouce. But, I find the computer programs to be pretty much useless unless you already know the basics of the language, so I think this book would go perfectly with any material that teaches at a higher level. And in response to the person who gave this book one star I would say that this book is not designed to get you fluent, its for people who have no clue when it comes to the language and I think its excellent at preparing you for the real study of spanish

126 of 133 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spanish for Physicians, Patients and Everyone, April 5, 2000

By A Customer

This book 'Spanish for Dummies' is a joy to read. The author stresses learning at your own speed. I am learning Spanish so that I can converse with my ever-increasing population of Spanish-speaking patients. It really makes a difference. I see lots of smiles when I struggle to get the accent correct. The book comes with a CD that is invaluable for pronunciation. Have Fun!